Haukur Þór Harðarson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland and has studied music from early age starting with the trombone. He Studied composition in the Icelandic Academy of the Arts with Atli Ingólfsson and The Conservatorium van Amsterdam with teachers Richard Ayres and Wim Henderickx, as well as having had individual lessons with Brian Ferneyhough, Johannes Schöllhorn, Dmitri Kourliandski, Chaya Czernowin and Mark André through different masterclasses and workshops.

His works have been performed by Ensembles like Caput, Neon, Ensemble Recherche, Neue Vocalsolisten, Orkest de Ereprisj, Asko/Schönberg, Niewe Ensemble and Quatuor Diotima.